Player FM Bloghttps://blog.player.fm
Player FM puts podcasts in the cloud and lets you stream them into your browser.Tue, 03 Jul 2018 16:36:48 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.8https://blog.player.fm/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/cropped-playerfmlogo-32x32.pngPlayer FM Bloghttps://blog.player.fm
3232Player FM 4.1 overhauled Android Auto! Download while roaming, create custom categories in a new way, colored playback notification + morehttps://blog.player.fm/v4-1/
Mon, 02 Jul 2018 12:44:50 +0000https://blog.player.fm/?p=962Player FM leveled up to the next 4.1 level! Following your feedback and taking into account your safety, we revamped Android Auto, aside from the other updates we made to the app.

Android Auto updates

The best drivers are aware that they must beware. So are we. Based on your feedback, we’ve updated the Android Auto user interface, and made it even simpler and more transparent so that you can drive safely while browsing and listening to podcasts. You can now easily access your categories, playlists (for premium users) and recently played episodes and start playing. Also, more content is loaded now, so that you can browse more episodes (subscriptions, play later, etc.) on Android Auto, when parked.

Download while roaming

The main reason we previously disabled downloading while roaming were the costly hurricane-sized bills users may incur every time they go abroad. After careful consideration, and based on your feedback (thank you very much!), it’s now possible to download your favorite podcasts while roaming, anywhere. But, we didn’t leave you totally defenseless in the “claws” of roaming, as we implemented a safety switch in Settings | Downloads, so that you can stop downloading in the blink of an eye, whenever you feel low on data.

The setting is invisible in Downloads, by default, so as to prevent it from being accidentally enabled. To make it visible, you need to allow Downloading while roaming from Downloads > Queued tab via a toggle. Once enabled, it will become visible in Downloads settings permanently.

New way to create custom categories and playlists (for premium users)

It is said that there is always another way, and we agree with it. From now on, you can create new categories in [Shows]. Tap on the 3-dot icon, select [New category…] pick a name, add the shows you like and start rocking – as simple as that.

Colored playback notification (Android Oreo and later OS versions)

The world isn’t just black and white – our playback notification isn’t either. From now on, you can enjoy the full spectrum of colors in our playback notifications, based on the podcasts’ images, on Android Oreo or newer OS versions. We added an enable/disable toggle in Settings | Notifications, too.

Improved screen transition

From now on, you can move like greased lightning, as jumping from your subscriptions to individual shows is now faster and slicker than ever.

Plus more…

Other updates include:
– Improved tablet interface
– Option to delete the downloaded file of currently played episode
– Sync play position of the current episode (for premium users)
– Bookmarks creation & triple-click action added to headset controls (for premium users)
– Sort options for subcategories of Downloads screen
– A new theme button on the main Settings screen
– Option to hide the margin between podcast thumbnails on Shows screen (series grid view) in Display settings
– [Subscriptions] is now renamed to [Shows] on Android Wear
– + so much more

One more thing — our iOS app is now in beta. If you want to be part of the experience, you can jump in, by entering your email address on iphone.player.fm.

]]>Player FM web app – Find what you like and like it!https://blog.player.fm/player-fm-web-app-find-what-you-like-and-like-it/
Fri, 01 Jun 2018 14:56:33 +0000https://blog.player.fm/?p=958Are you working on a project and you are in the stage of collecting data? Are you getting ready for your morning commute and forgot to prepare your episodes-on-the-go list, because you didn’t hear the morning bell? Or, are you just scrolling down the episodes list trying to find interesting episodes for learning languages? We have great news for you, as we now have a feature that can save the day – liking (because we like you so much)!

Located under every episode, next to the play later and playlist (premium only) buttons, episode detail pages, and player’s 3-dot menu, the like button will let you like on-the-go, instantaneously. No sub-menus, no other sub-s, no different screens – you don’t need to go anywhere else to like episodes.

You can find all the episodes you liked under Playlists > Likes – they will be there waiting for you.

Liking will help with driving personalized recommendations forward and make sure that you get only the best and most concise content on the topic you are interested in.

Please note that likes are public by default, but you can easily make them private ,through the gear icon.

We won’t stop here – we have more plans for this feature that we are working on. Stay tuned!

]]>Player FM iOS beta – Redesigned search, UI, bookmarks, performance updates and bug fixeshttps://blog.player.fm/player-fm-ios-beta-redesigned-search-ui-bookmarks-performance-updates-and-bug-fixes/
Tue, 29 May 2018 13:10:23 +0000https://blog.player.fm/?p=955We’ve just been in iOS beta for a couple of months, and we can’t describe how happy we are that so many users showed interest in being part of our efforts to offer users the podcast app of their dreams. There is still a lot of work to be done until we reach the App Store, but we are getting there.

Here is the rundown of what we’ve done so far:

Redesigned search

Yes, we brought the Android flavor into iOS, too. You can now find the podcast episodes, series, subscriptions and topics in a much more organized and easier way. All you need to do is type in the search term and hit a button once you get the results. Quite simple. isn’t it?

UI updates

We woke up the artist inside and reorganized the UI. We’ve changed the way of subscribing to a podcast, adding episodes to playlists (premium-only), the series and episode detail screens, so as to give you greater control.

By tapping on the subscribe button, you’re now able to subscribing to podcasts, choose your preferred categories (and create new ones), set the sort options, configure notifications, and set the series’ download limit and order.

Adding episodes to playlists and creating new playlists are much faster now. Additionally, you can do this from just one screen – as simple as that!

We also refreshed the episode and series detail screens with a new set of much cleaner buttons and options (check ’em out ).

Bookmark your favorite moments

Brace yourselves life-long learners and podcast addicts, as the Bookmarks premium feature is now available in the iOS app, too! Bookmark those noteworthy parts of a talk show or a language-learning podcast with a finger tap and have them synced across devices and PC.

We’ve also made performance updates and fixed bugs reported by users (thank you very much, guys!) and we will continue improving the app even more.

To be able to test the app, ideally you need to have an iPhone running on the latest operating system (iOS 11), as we don’t support iPads in this stage.

Help us make the app even better with your feedback and suggestions. Head to http://iphone.player.fm now, and be among the pioneers who will test Player FM iOS!

]]>Podchaser integration — play podcasts from Podchaser through our apphttps://blog.player.fm/podchaser-integration-play-podcasts-from-podchaser-through-our-app/
Thu, 10 May 2018 14:07:14 +0000https://blog.player.fm/?p=944As part of our goal to make podcasts more accessible to everyone while continuously improving the user experience, we are excited to announce our partnership with Podchaser! As you may already know, Podchaser is a place where users can search for and/or review podcasts. As a result, you can now open the podcasts you’ve found on Podchaser using Player FM. This is just the beginning of a great partnership, so stay tuned for more good things to come.

And of course, download Player FM in the Google Play Store now, and get access to a wide array of advanced features and a great user experience!

Questions or suggestions? Drop us a line, via support@player.fm

]]>Player FM: Podcast Smarterhttps://blog.player.fm/player-fm-podcast-smarter/
Fri, 20 Apr 2018 15:00:24 +0000https://blog.player.fm/?p=935At the start of 2018, we boldly went where no one has gone before and made podcasting smarter. Intelligent syncing between devices, of subscriptions, playback positions, bookmarks and more features, as well as improved app performance and stability, have made the podlives of many users easier. Also, we broke the monotony and made the whole color spectrum available to users. For more details on the updates we made in the Android app, feel free to check our previous posts.

Here’s what we’ve done since then, as we told you that our sleeves are rolled up all the time.

UI upgrades and performance updates

As promised, we started with beautifying the web app and making it smoother and stabler. We changed its font to Lato, and now it is a sight for sore eyes – just have a look at it.

Personalized podcast recommendations

Yes, we’ve made that possible and we’ve made it personal! You will receive personalized podcast recommendations on the topics you love most, by email. Discover the trending-est episodes among your subscriptions and interests even if you are a rookie in the podsphere. You can enable this option in your Android app (Settings > Connection and Account) or the web app as you wish. This is only the first step towards a much more powerful recommendations of trending episodes, which will also surface somewhere else – we will keep the location a secret, for now.

Improved syncing

You will no longer have to sweep the broom twice, as the category and playlist settings now sync. Episode sort order, series sort order, and “Track position” are now part of the big cloud family, which we will further expand in the future. Also, the web app now supports an “auto-remove” property for playlists. Play an episode in Play Later and it will be automatically removed from Play Later on every single device you have, just like the default Android app setting. You’re gonna like this!

Aside from the new features, we addressed many bugs reported by users (a big thank-you ladies and gents!) and further improved the apps and servers.

That’s all for now — we are getting back to work! Whenever you need our help, and whenever you have suggestions to share, we’re just a message away.

Download Player FM in the Google Play Store and learn even more about podcasting smarter with Player FM’s premium plans.

]]>Player FM iOS is in betahttps://blog.player.fm/player-fm-ios-is-in-beta/
Mon, 16 Apr 2018 10:00:51 +0000https://blog.player.fm/?p=927Not even for a single moment did we forget about the iOS users. As mentioned in our previous blog post, we’ve been building the iOS app very carefully, step by step and incessantly.

Finally, the day when you can expand your podcast listening experience across all platforms has come. Player FM iOS is now in beta and we’ve started inviting the users who enrolled via http://iphone.player.fm. If you’re interested in becoming a tester, feel free to click on the link and sign up anytime!

Since we are in beta, we’re aware the user interface isn’t yet “100% sparkling” in all areas. At this point, we’ve prioritized function over form, so you can expect an app that lets you:

cloud-sync all your custom categories, Play Later and playlists across all platforms (Android, iOS and web)

create custom categories and add podcasts to them

create custom playlists (premium plan users only)

configure auto-download options

play podcasts on continuous-play mode

The features above are just the first step closer to a better podcast listening experience. You may expect the following features to be implemented soon:

Refined UI

Bookmarks

Import

Parallel downloads

and much more!

To be able to test the app, ideally you need to have an iPhone running on the latest operating system (iOS 11), as we don’t support iPads at this stage.

Help us make the app even better with your feedback. Head to http://iphone.player.fm now, and be among the pioneers who will test Player FM iOS!

Rearrange downloaded episodes manually

Are you a rule breaker and chance taker who wants downloads served your way? You now have the option to arrange them yourself! Shuffle the deck, split the cards however you like, and start playing. The rearrangement works the same way as in Play Later.

Receive podcast recommendations via email

Are you new in the sea of podcasts, GPS not fully online, and just don’t know where to start? Let Player FM be your helping hand. You can now receive personalized podcast recommendations by email. Discover the trending-est episodes among your subscriptions and interests. You can enable this option in your Android app (Settings > Connection and Account) or the web app as you wish.

New system themes

The world isn’t black and white. In this update, we pay tribute to all the colors in the rainbow with new themes to color your podcast life. Make it as red as passion, as blue as the oceans, as green as the jungles, as orange as the tigers or if you are a night bird, as dark as midnight – up to you! As you may know, themes and the theme editor are part of the new premium plans, but we know not everyone wants a red interface to begin with, so now we’ve added some more color options for all users. You’ll also find themes easier to access now, straight from the top-right of Settings.

More updates include:

further improved ‘Podcast of the day’ notification

performance updates for a smoother and smarter podcast experience

That’s all for now, but we won’t stop! If you have other suggestions, feel free to let us know.

]]>Player FM 4.0.1: Syncable global settings and themes, language settings, bug fixes and morehttps://blog.player.fm/player-fm-4-0-1-syncable-global-settings-and-themes-language-settings-bug-fixes-and-more/
Mon, 29 Jan 2018 21:26:55 +0000https://blog.player.fm/?p=890We are proud to announce Player FM 4.0.1 is now at your disposal. As promised in our previous posts, we have strengthened the link between devices to ensure that you will make yourself at home on whichever devices you log in. We also addressed issues you reported. Here’s what’s new for premium users:

Global settings are now syncable across devices (Premium)

Have you spent hours fine-tuning app settings on your phone, only to go through the same again the next time you purchase a device? You will no longer have to worry about setting things up every time you switch between devices, as we made settings syncable. Yes, over 40 settngs are now synced between devices for your convenience. Set it and forget it!

Note it doesn’t make sense to sync certain settings. Settings like download limits won’t sync because there are devices of all shapes and sizes, with different capacities and mobile plans, so it’s important to keep these flexible. Similarly, you can happily switch “Force offline” on one device without that setting being propagated. To keep things simple, you’ll see the double-arrow sync indicator whenever the setting syncs.

Your custom themes are available on all your devices (Premium)

When we launched custom themes, users were excited to tweak the interface to their liking, but found it cumbersome to be recreating their themes on each device. Recreate no longer, as your library of custom themes now syncs across devices. As with settings sync, we still recognize that every device is unique, so the “current theme” is not synced, meaning you can still use a different theme on each device. But with this feature, you’ll be able to pick from the same set of themes on every device.

Choose the app’s language

You will no longer have to change your device’s language just to change our app’s language, thanks to the new language settings. Many Player FM users are into language learning … now you can keep your phone settings in your native language, while switching Player FM to the language you’re learning for a fully immersive experience.

Aside from adding new features, we reinforced the app, addressed the issues you reported and we are ready to move forward and make your podcast listening experience even better!

]]>Never miss a single episode of your preferred topicshttps://blog.player.fm/never-miss-a-single-episode-of-your-preferred-topics/
Wed, 10 Jan 2018 11:58:40 +0000https://blog.player.fm/?p=887Are you fed up with listening to podcasts which are simply not your cup of tea? Do you want to get only the right information from the right podcasts? We’ve been making our intelligent algorithms smarter so that they recommend you the right episodes, and guess what – you can receive the recommendations via email, on a weekly basis. We are making the first steps towards much more powerful recommendations of the right trending episodes to the right people, which are also to emerge in the app’s “Discover” tab very soon.

You may opt in and get weekly recommendations by email at https://player.fm/prefs (available in the web app for now, but will be made available in the Android app, too). Just tick the check box and start receiving recommendations via email (every email client is acceptable).

Your feedback on this feature will be of great help to us and will definitely contribute to enhancing this feature further.

If you have other questions of suggestions, feel free to bring them up.

]]>Player FM boldly goes where no app has gone before, in 2018https://blog.player.fm/player-fm-boldly-goes-where-no-app-has-gone-before-in-2018/
Fri, 05 Jan 2018 15:38:43 +0000https://blog.player.fm/?p=871First of all, Happy New Year everyone! We hope you had an awesome time during the holidays, and may all your wishes come true. We had a nice week off, fueled up our bellies and now it’s time to roll up our sleeves and get back to work, with one goal in mind — to make your podcast listening experience even better.

2018 has just arrived and Player FM continues to be one of the best podcast apps in the world of Android. In fact, in article on TNW, Player FM is listed as one of the 30 best Android apps of 2017:

“Player FM’s podcast player has been around for a while now, but it recently got a bunch of great new features with the launch of version 4 in November, as it inches closer towards offering a premium experience with a paid subscription.”

We’re so honored by this, and all we can say is a big “thank you” for recognizing our hard work over the years. Of course, huge thanks as well for the support and feedback from all our users — that definitely helped us move forward. Rest assured we won’t stop making the app even better for you.

Brace yourselves now, as we are about to share a little glimpse of what you can expect this year. Consider this our New Year’s resolution!

Settings sync

Display settings, playback settings, etc. — Yep, they’re about to be synced across devices and on the web soon! That’s a major revamp on our premium memberships’ cloud sync feature, which at present, syncs bookmarks, playlists, play history, playback position and many others. If you have another phone or tablet, simply log in to your account and leave the rest to us.

Themes sync

We value your custom themes, and we want you to keep them even when you use your other devices to listen to podcasts. That’s why here’s one good news: Custom themes will soon be cloud-synced, too!

That’s all we want to share for now and we will keep the rest a secret (until further notice).

One more thing — due to the increasing interest in our premium plans, we decided to give you a chance to unleash the full potential of our app free of charge, for 7 days. We will share more details very soon.

We’re looking forward to another exciting year with you. And, as stated on many occasions, whenever you need our help, and whenever you have suggestions to share, we’re just a message away.